THE Soesdyke-Linden Highway is one of the most traversed pathways that runs through Guyana. It works to bridge the gap between the capital city and the mining town of Linden. Beyond the familiar highway, adorned with countless creeks and peaceful pit stops, a clandestine network of trails unfolds, carefully crafted by communities like Yarrowkabra.

As one of the most well-known villages along the highway, the name Yarrowkabra is associated with farmlands, sand roads, and blackwater creeks. The true beauty of Yarrowkabra extends far beyond a mere mile or two from the highway. The vastness of the village stretches into the backlands, interjections, and junctions that connect villages like St Cuthbert’s Mission and Long Creek. Venturing further leads to the locals’ cherished “Savannah,” a vast stretch housing flourishing ecosystems and the enchanting canopy of trees. This stretch of land is home to flourishing ecosystems of animals coupled with the captivating canopy of trees. Yarrowkabra is a petite haven concealing an enigmatic secret.

In the heart of Yarrowkabra, covering a mere three miles, lies a community that has gracefully embraced changes and witnessed infrastructural upgrades. Once synonymous with farming, the village now houses countless professions and tradesmen. One of these young men eager to improve himself and his blossoming community is the one and only Meshach Holder. Born and raised in Yarrowkabra, 22-year-old Meshach spent his childhood satisfying his adventurous spirit. A young visionary, Meshach spent his adventurous childhood exploring the trails connecting villages beyond Yarrowkabra. After long days biking through the trails connecting the villages beyond Yarrowkabra, Meshach is now working to show the rest of Guyana and hopefully the world what Yarrowkabra has to offer.

Yarrowkabra’s Guiding Light
Meshach was born and raised among his four brothers in Yarrowkabra, of which he was the third. The community of Yarrowkabra has seen myriad changes over the last two decades, with the construction of various roads and the addition of schools; the village has come a long way from what Meshach knew it to be. However, the humble nature of the people and simplistic way of life has endured. As a young man, Meshach learned to ride a motorbike, a must in a community characterised by its loam roads. Meshach and his brothers, filled with all the curiosity of youth, traversed through the trails and even created a few new ones of their own.

Meshach remembers most of his childhood being consumed by exploration and sports. These activities shaped the culture of togetherness that is so strongly felt in the village. He shared that, “I was born and raised in Yarrowkabra. Back then, there used to be a lot of sports too around the village.” At an early age, Meshach began seeking jobs like his older brothers. The ambitious young man took up the task of machinery operator before he completed school. Like most things learned in life, Meshach says he did not learn to operate heavy machinery at school but rather mastered the craft through observation and hands-on learning. He shared that, “I am a mechanical operator. I did not do it in school. I watched and learned. I went to school up to form five and did not write CXC.”  Despite his hurdles, Meshach has found what he wants to do with his life, something that many people fail to do.

The young man who filled his days with riding off through the trees in Yarrowkabra has found himself teaching others to do the same at Savannah Tours. A tourism-based service that takes visitors on exhilarating rides through the thick tunnelling vegetation and tracks of Yarrowkabra. A young Meshach has been playing a major role as a tour guide. He admitted that, at first, he saw tourism as a pastime. But over time, his love for the professional, giving others the chance to experience Yarrowkabra in all its beauty, has made a mark on him.

The young man explained that his job has taken him places and has given him experiences that he never imagined could have been found in Yarrowkabra. Meshach told the Pepperpot Magazine that, “Since I got into the tourism business, it has gotten better. I am enjoying it, and I am getting to meet nice people. I am getting to go to different places.” As a wild and happy young man, racing down the dirt tracks of Yarrowkabra, Meshach has learned the trails of Yarrowkabra like the back of his hand. And if you ever find yourself in Yarrowkabra and seeking adventure, he would be happy to take you for a ride.